Lorrie Moore is a critically-acclaimed American writer whose work has been celebrated for its humor, wit, and insight into human nature.
She is the author of several collections of short stories and novels, and her works have been praised by some of the most influential literary figures of our time.
In this exclusive interview, Moore talks about her life and work, her inspirations, and her thoughts on today’s literary world. She shares her views on the creative process and offers invaluable advice for aspiring authors.
This is a rare opportunity to gain insight into the mind of a writer whose work has forever changed the landscape of contemporary literature.
Lorrie Moore is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American writer whose work has been celebrated for its humor, wit, and insight into human nature.
She is the author of several collections of short stories and novels, and her works have been praised by some of the most influential literary figures of our time. In this exclusive interview, Moore talks about her life and work, her inspirations, and her thoughts on today’s literary world.
She shares her views on the creative process and offers invaluable advice for aspiring authors. This is a rare opportunity to gain insight into the mind of a writer whose work has forever changed the landscape of contemporary literature.
Throughout her career, Moore has published eight collections of short stories and four novels, which have been translated into more than 20 languages and earned her numerous accolades.
Her works have been heralded by critics and readers alike. They have won the admiration of countless figures from the world of literature, including John Updike, who once famously said that Moore’s short stories are “so good that you assume no one can do it twice.”
In addition to her literary pursuits, Moore has also found success in other ventures. In 1999, she published an illustrated short story in The New Yorker, making her the first visual artist to be published on the magazine’s pages.
In 2003, the same publication featured her in a recurring column titled “Ask the Author,” where she responded to questions sent in by readers. Moore’s work has also appeared in some anthologies she edited and contributed to.
Aside from these, she has taught creative writing at various universities and served as a judge for several writing competitions.
When asked about her writing process, Moore confessed that she likes to write in longhand on legal pads, using a yellow No. 2 pencil. As she explains, this is her preferred method: “I like the feel of pencil on paper.
It doesn’t feel like you’re carving in stone.” She does not have a regular writing schedule and does not write at the same time every day. She does her best to avoid routines because she feels this can serve as a “fetish.”
When the words begin to flow, Moore said she gets “addicted” to that feeling and “doesn’t want to do anything else.” Although she is a prolific writer, she asserted that quality is more important than quantity.
Moore noted that the internet benefitted aspiring writers when asked about her thoughts on the literary world today. She said, “The internet has made it easier for people to publish; it’s made it easier for people to find things that they care about.”
Apart from this, however, Moore is not a fan of specific trends in the publishing industry. She criticized the current focus on bestsellers, the rise in non-fiction, the emphasis on online content over books, and the increasing number of published books.
She said that she worries about the future of books and noted that “people need to pay attention to that.” She feels that we’re in a “terrible time” for books and hopes that people will “wake up” and “take care” of this literary culture “before it’s too late.”
When asked what inspires and motivates her to write, Moore said she “just thinks and writes.” She uses a pen and paper, which she feels are essential in writing.
She added that she has “a little desk” to keep the tools she needs to write, including a dictionary, a thesaurus, yellow legal pads, and No. 2 pencils. Her first inspiration to write came from her parents, who both loved reading.
Moore said that her mother would “read anything,” and her father was “obsessed” with newspapers. As a child, she often surreptitiously read her mother’s books and, after reading them, would “immediately try to write.”
She added that she loves language and loves that “you can say anything with it.” Her other source of inspiration and motivation is her desire to “understand people” better. She wants to “look at all of the ways people are weird and amazing and funny” and hopes that this desire will “never go away.”
Throughout her career, Moore has also become an inspiration to countless aspiring writers. In this exclusive interview, she offers her advice for young writers hoping to break into the industry.
First, she said that aspiring writers should never let anyone tell them they can’t do it. She believes that writing is something “anyone can do,” so long as they are determined enough to do it.
Additionally, she said that aspiring writers should read a lot of different types of writing. They should read “a lot of different kinds of books,” as this will help them “see what’s out there.”
She also stressed the importance of keeping a journal, saying that “writing is a way of finding out who you are” and that keeping a journal allows you to do this on your terms. Finally, she advised aspiring writers to be “contrarian” and to “listen to what your brain is saying.”
She believes that everyone has a “unique voice” and that “when you listen to it, it keeps getting stronger.”
Finally, in this exclusive interview, Moore reflected on her life and career. She said she feels “lucky” to have a life where she can “sit at home” and write. She added that she “loves” being a writer, and could never imagine doing anything else.
When asked what she hopes her writing will leave behind, Moore replied, “I just hope that it makes something a little more beautiful than it was before.”
She added that she hopes her writing will make people laugh, help them understand themselves better, and “make the world a little more interesting and mysterious and beautiful to be in.”
She concluded by saying she hopes her readers will “feel less alone” and that her writing will be “something that will help people love life.”
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